An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Friday, November 23, 2018

Solomon’s Happy Kidneys

(Proverbs 23:16 KJV)  Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

Compare the KJV with the NASB.
(Proverbs 23:16 NAS77)  And my inmost being will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
Notice that one has “reins” (3629) and the other has “inmost being”.  What caught my attention was the marginal reading of the NASB which said, “literally kidneys”.  That is the basic meaning of the word and is the most common translation in both.  We get very romantic when we talk about our heart but somehow moderns don’t get excited about their kidneys.  Maybe we should.

Solomon here is telling his son that if he will learn to speak what is “right” (4339) it will make dad’s kidneys happy.  I don’t think this is a literal teaching about medicine.  The Hebrews knew what a kidney was even if they didn’t know all the scientific stuff we know today.  It was the location that was important.  A son who learns to speak what is right is a son that gives his father an inner sense of rightness.

So?  The training is up to the parents.  The results are on the heads of the children.  My kids are adults and I can say that the effects continue. 

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